patroclusbro's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I have always been wanting to learn more about queer elders, but in recent years I think there has been a tendency to write those stories for teen audiences rather than adults. Not really my tea any more!
If you feel similar, you have to check out this book: De Robertis writes about the struggles and dreams of a group of Cantoras - women loving women - in 1970s and 1980s Uruguay. Craving for some breath outside of Montevideo, where the dictatorship closes in around them bit by bit, the five of them take a short trip to the coast. Away from curious eyes, new hope and lust - and companionship! - sparks. Over the years, they come back time and time again, growing older, growing closer, growing apart, making up, resisting, dreaming, loving.
There is a richness to the characters and landscape that I loved! It was so easy to stumble into this world and open my heart for these women. The contrasts between the city and Cabo Polonio flow freely, there is a gentle but irresistible pull to the story. I also learned a lot about Uruguay, its people and political dynamics.
My main point of criticism: I wished that this book could have been longer! I wanted to spend more time with the characters. Rather than being told what happened to them during the time jumps, I wanted to see it first-hand. I would have read 500 pages of this, at least.
I also want to set a BIG trigger warning for suicide, told from the close, stay safe!
Graphic: Suicide and Sexual harassment
istmiajuppe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Rape, Police brutality, Torture, War, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage and Alcoholism
linguaphile412's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Suicide
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Torture, Miscarriage, and Antisemitism
dreareads_'s review
5.0
"Its [cantora] connotations were beautiful, but also obscene, depending on how you approached it"
This, this is one of the most beautiful sapphic stories I have read. It is the story of 5 queer women finding each other and learning to survive under the Uruguayan dictatorship of the 1970's.
It is a story of survival, friendship, love, betrayal, and political action. It is a beautiful story that takes you through the history of Uruguays & Latin Americas slow movement towards democracy and queer rights.
The relationships between the five women were heart warming. They were each strong women, who found a space where they could be happy, vulnerable, and themselves. Through the story we see these women break the barriers that have been imposed on them by society, fighting to be their true selves and for their own country.
This story made me realize how little I know about lgbt movement in LatAm. How so many fought for democracy, equality, and love. In This book I found my love for my mother tongue, Spanish, again. A language that throughout the book is often used to emphasize the beauty that exists around the world.
During this book I laughed, I cried, and celebrated the wonderment that is being a sapphic woman. A must read for everyone.
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Biphobia, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, and Suicide
lynneliu's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Lesbophobia, and Infidelity
Moderate: Police brutality, Sexual harassment, and Torture
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Medical trauma, and Racism
jessicaelisa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Rape, Homophobia, Abandonment, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Police brutality, Alcohol, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Lesbophobia, and Medical trauma
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Miscarriage, and Alcoholism
lexi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Torture
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Genocide
There are a lot of potentially triggering topics in this book, but it never felt like "torture porn" to me. It wasn't there to shock, it was there because these are real experiences people have.